DPT FAQs - Prerequisites - Prospective Students - Western University of Health Sciences

Entry Level DPT

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DPT FAQs - Prerequisites

For questions pertaining to students with advanced standing, see Transitional DPT FAQs - Prerequisites. For students seeking their first degree in Physical Therapy, see below.

Do I need to have a bachelor's degree to apply?
Do you require a minimum GPA to apply?
How many hours of work experience are required prior to application?
Do you require any standardized tests prior to application?
What are the prerequisite courses for the DPT program?
Your prerequisite courses are in semester credits. My undergraduate work is in quarter credits - how will my credit hours be calculated?
Can I have prerequisite courses in progress at the time of application? How many?
Can I substitute any courses for your prerequisites?
Can I talk to a counselor about my coursework?
Do you accept CLEP, A/P credit, or can I test out of any prerequisites?

Do I need to have a bachelor's degree to apply?

Yes. Our physical therapy program is a doctoral degree program that requires a bachelor's degree as a prerequisite.

Do you require a minimum GPA to apply?

We assess two grade point averages when evaluating a candidate for the entry-level DPT program. The first is an overall GPA for all college course work (at the undergraduate and post-baccalaureate level). The second is a GPA of all prerequisite courses completed at the time of application. We may also consider a GPA based on the last 60 semester/90 quarter units. Applicants should have a competitive overall and prerequisite GPA consistent with current incoming class averages at 3.0 or above.

How many hours of work experience are required prior to application?

A minimum of 200 hours of volunteer or paid work experience in two or more physical therapy facilities and/or clinical settings is required. This must include a minimum of 40 in-patient hours. In-patient settings may include: in-patient hospitals (acute, sub-acute/transitional care or rehab), skilled nursing facilities (SNF), extended care facilities (ECF), and residential facilities (geriatric/pediatric). You must have at least 40 hours to qualify as a setting/facility.

Do you require any standardized tests prior to application?

Yes, we require the GRE. No minimum score is required at this time.

What are the prerequisite courses for the DPT program?

Click here for a list of prerequisite courses.

Your prerequisite courses are in semester credits. My undergraduate work is in quarter credits - how will my credit hours be calculated?

2 quarter hours equals 3 semester hours.

Can I have prerequisite courses in progress at the time of application? How many?

Prerequisites may be in progress during the academic year prior to matriculation. No more than three prerequisite courses can be in progress at the time of application. All coursework in progress must be completed by the end of the spring quarter/semester of the year of matriculation. Please submit official transcripts directly to the admissions office upon completion of course work in progress. Final transcripts and/or final grades (including degree verification) for all course work in progress must be received prior to registration in August.

Can I substitute any courses for your prerequisites?

No.

Can I talk to a counselor about my coursework?

Yes. Admissions counselors are available by phone or e-mail to answer any questions you may have regarding course work and the admissions process. If you have questions as to whether a specific course meets our requirements, you may submit a Coursework Acceptablility Form for review.

In the event that we are unable to determine whether the course(s) in question is acceptable, you may be required to submit a catalog course description and/or syllabus.

Do you accept CLEP, A/P credit, or can I test out of any prerequisites?

Request for credit may be considered.

Last Updated:04/20/2008

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